FAS/FASL pathway involved in immunotherapy resistance

A study published in Nature Communications by researchers at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and colleagues identified Fas ligand (TNF superfamily, member 6; FASL) as a potential target to overcome resistance to cancer immunotherapy by blocking apoptosis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).

The researchers found that adoptive transfer of CD8+ TILs inhibited tumor growth in mouse models of transplanted melanoma, but not in a genetically engineered model of induced melanoma. At 4 days after transfer, the cells were observable in both models, but by day 22, TILs were undetectable in mice bearing induced tumors. Staining revealed that a high number of TILs present in induced tumors at day 4 were apoptotic...